Ash tray



May 17, 1949.

J. LEAMAN 2,470,501

ASH TRAY Filed March 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor i J/nes Z ea 774/2 Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE ASH TRAY James Leaman, New York, N. Y.

Application March 26, 1945, Serial No. 584,834

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to improvements in ash trays for cigarette ashes and stubs, the primary object in view being to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive device for holding cigarette ashes and a large number of cigarette stubs, and which is especially adapted for snufiing out lighted cigarettes.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purposes above set forth which may be so inexpensively constructed that it is well adapted for free distribution in restaurants, night clubs, and the like, as an advertising medium to be disposed of when filled, and which will have an advertising value offsetting its low cost of production.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective, partly broken away, of my improved ash tray in its preferred embodiment,

Figure 2 is a similar View of the filler removed,

Figure 3 is a similar view of two of the strips of which the filler is formed and illustrating the slot thereof whereby the strips are interfitted to form the filler,

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a modified embodiment of my improved ash tray,

Figure 5 is a similar view of the cigarette package holder detached.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, and first to Figures 1 to 3, in the preferred embodiment thereof, my improved ash tray comprises a rectangular, shallow container 1 and a multicellular filler 2 fitting into said container I and removable therefrom. Both the container and the filler 2 may be formed of properly fireproofed paper of the requisite thickness to render the tray adequately rigid.

The multi-cellular filler 2 is formed of strips 3, 4 arranged in right angled relation and provided with slots 5, 6 extending part way across said strips from one edge thereof, the arrangement being such that said slots 5 of the strips 3 will straddle the strips 4 and the slots 6 of the strips 4 will straddle the strips 3 whereby said strips will be interfitted to form together with the sides 5' of the container I parallel rows of rectangular upright cells 1 adapted to receive the ends of cigarettes, not shown, snugly therein and 2 which are of the same depth as that of the container l.

The container I may be provided with a tacky coating 8 on the bottom 9 thereof so that cigarette ashes will adhere to the same at the bottom of the cells.

The cellular filler 2 is designed to fold, with the strips 3, 4 arranged flat against each other, and, as will be manifest, such folding may be accomplished by hinging movement of the strips at their juncture points.

My invention also comprehends having the sides 6' of the container l foldable over the bottom 9 for packing and shipping purposes, whereby the container l and filler 2 may be stored, or shipped, in compact package form, and the sides 6' of the container l subsequently unfolded and suitably connected together, as by glue, not shown, preparatory to inserting the filler 2 in the container to assemble the parts of the tray for distribution and use.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, an ash tray [0, similar to tray I, is provided with a package holder comprising an open ended, rectangular sheath H, of the same material as the tray, and of the proper size to contain a package of cigarettes, not shown. The sheath II is provided in one end thereof with longitudinally extending slots l2 arranged to straddle the strips l3, ll of the filler [5, so that said end may be fitted downwardly into the filler l5 over said strips l3, l4 and thus frictionally interlocked with said strips in upstanding position for the insertion of a cigarette package downwardly into the sheath to rest on the top edges of the strips within the sheath, and with one end of said package extending above the pper end of said sheath. As will be clear, the sheath II is designed to be folded fiat, in shipment. or storage, by hinging of its walls at the junction lines thereof.

As will be understood, the cells of the described ash trays are adapted not only to contain ashes and cigarette stubs, but are also designed for use in snufiing out burning cigarette stubs which may be inserted in the cells lighted end foremost and the lighted ends pressed against the bottoms of the tray to snuff out the same.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

I A tray of the class described comprising a sub- Qfstantially rectangular shallow container, and a filler removably fitted therein and comprising "strips arranged in crossed right angular relation to form parallel rows of upright cells of a size to snugly receive one end of a cigarette, and a Jsheath of rectangular form adapted to contain a package of cigarettes and having slots in one endstraddling said strips whereby said sheath is frictionally interlocked with the strips in upstanding position, said sheath extending above said cells a distance suflicient to hold. a package of cigarettes therein seated on said strips and extending part way out of said sheath.

JAMES LEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

